Warner Bros. has canceled previously scheduled screenings for Thursday in several Russian cities.

Warner Bros. has delayed the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in several major Russian cities by a day, citing piracy concerns.

Previously scheduled screenings for Thursday in such cities as Yekaterinburg and Kazan have been canceled. Overall, at least six major Russian cities are affected. Theater owners explained Warner's decision by citing recent piracy incidents in Russia.

The movie will now open in those cities no earlier than Friday at noon. The film is also set to open on Friday in the U.S. and U.K., where pirated material could have affected the box office.

Russian cinema chain Cinema Park said: "At Warner's decision, the opening of Batman v. Superman in Yekaterinburg is postponed from March 24 to March 25."

Warner Bros. declined to comment.

The movie is still supposed to open in Moscow and other Russian cities on Thursday. The decision to delay the start in some places suggests that there was evidence of recent piracy in those specific cities.

A Russian trade journal reported that the movie was going to open on 1,027 screens in the country.